List of chiefs of Fort Albany First Nation

This is a list of chiefs of Fort Albany, including the chiefs that have governed Fort Albany First Nation since the establishment of a reserve on the territory in 1909, as well as their councils.

Indian Act (1909–1977) A band council was established for the Fort Albany First Nation, following the Indian Act. +Date of selectionChiefCouncillorsNotesRef1909Andrew WesleyJuly 1920Moses Wesley S. Ruben J. N. Scott J. Spence D. WesleyJuly 1923 Patrick Steven[sic] Xavier Spence David SolomonJuly 26, 1926 Patrick Stephen[sic] Xavier Spence Xavier Chookomoolin David SolomonJuly 16, 1929Isiah Nashootaway (Sutherland) Xavier Scott James Sutherland Alex Lazarus1933Moses Wesley1938Walter StephenJuly 1947Simeon Scott James Sutherland James Wesley Willie StephensJuly 30, 1951 Joel Linklater James Sutherland Fred LazarusJuly 29, 1957James Wesley Gaius Wesley Simon Koosees Alex LazarusJune 17, 1960 Simon Koosees Gaius Wesley Alex Lazarus James Sutherland Simeon Metatawbin Louis Nakochee Xavier SutherlandAugust 12, 1964Abraham Metatawabin Willie Stephen Gaius Wesley Willie Wesley Sr. Raphael Wheesk Moses Nakogee John Wheesk Xavier SutherlandJuly 28, 1967James Wesley Simon[sic] Friday Evadney Friday Fred Lazarus Labius Reuben Mary Solomon Willie Stephen David Wynne Jr. Hosea Wynne Joshua WynneAugust 27, 1969William Stephen Silas Wesley John A. Wesley Xavier Sutherland Sinclair Wynne Clifford Wesley Alex Goodwin Claudius Hughie James Solomon Lawrence Mark Philip Tookata Abraham Metatawabin[sic] John NakocheeJune 15, 1971William Wesley Sr. Silas Wesley John A. Wesley Alex Wesley Philip Hughie Mathias Wynne Fred Lazarus Sr. George Wesley Simon Friday Lawrence Mark Philip Tookata Moses Nakogee Gilbert SolomonLawrence Mark resigned January 17, 1972. Moses Nakogee resigned May 16, 1972.June 15, 1973John Nakogee Simeon Friday James Wesley Evadney Friday Josephine Wesley Sinclair Wynne Bertie Wynne Fred Lazarus Sr. Sinclair Williams Abraham Wynne Abraham Metat[sic] Peter Sutherland Edmund MetatJune 24, 1975Silas Wesley Simeon Friday Alex Goodwin John Wesley George Wesley Bartholomew Sutherland Sinclair Wynne Peter Sackanay Daisy Sackanay Abraham Metatawabin[sic] John Kataquabit Joseph Kataquabit Lawrence MarkThis was the last band council before the official split between the Fort Albany and Kaschechewan First Nations, from 1977 onwards, each community had its own band council.

Following split with Kashechewan (1977–2022)

Kashechewan First Nation began having its own band council in 1977. +Date of SelectionChiefCouncillorsNotesRefJune 21, 1977John Nakogee Edmond Edwards Michel Nakochee Harry Loone Louis Nakogee Antoine Koostachin Gilbert SolomonJune 21, 1979Alex Metatawabin Lawrence Mark John Scott Harry Loone John Edwards Joseph Kataquapit Peter SackanayChief Alex Metatawabin was removed February 24, 1980, and replaced in a by-election.March 3, 1980Louie[sic] NakogeeJune 2, 1981Alex Metatawabin Daniel Edwards Xavier Sutherland Louis Nakogee Jr. Edmund Edwards Joseph Sutherland Micheline EdwardsJuly 16, 1983Louie[sic] Nakogee Sr. Daniel Edwards Louis Nakogee Jr. Abraham Matatawabin[sic] Harry Loone Joseph Wheesk Marius SpenceFebruary 27, 1985Simeon Solomon William Sutherland Peter Sutherland John Paul Nakochee Gabriel Loone Ignace Kataquapit Marius SpenceGabriel Loone and Marius Spence resigned in September 1985, and were replaced by Peter Nakogee and David Sutherland in a by-election on September 11, 1985. Peter Nakogee then resigned on May 13, 1986.August 13, 1986Louie Nakogee Jr. Antoine Koostachin Joseph Wheesk Annabella Solomon Marius Spence Ignace Kataquapit Joseph Sutherland Peter NakogeeJuly 6, 1988Edmund Metatawabin William Sutherland Peter Sutherland Gilbert Solomon Gisele Kataquapit Lucie Solomon Rita Scott Patricia EdwardsWilliam Sutherland and Rita Scott resigned during their time on Council, and were replaced by David Sutherland and George Sackanay in a by-election on May 21, 1989.July 6, 1990 Peter Sutherland Leo Loon Gabriel Sutherland Joseph Sutherland George Scott Ernest Edwards Michel SolomonJuly 13, 1992Edward Metatawabin Joseph Wheesk Gabriel Sutherland Leo Loon Bernard Sutherland Emile Sutherland Marius Spence Annabella Solomon1994Edmund MetatawabinEdmund Metatawabin was still chief in 1994 and 1995.July 2, 1996Arthur ScottWithin a few months of Scott's election, a petition calling for his removal as chief was signed by 186 people. On September 5, 1996, some members of the band held a "custom election", according to The Nation, "a show of hands to select a new chief." 95 people voted in the "custom election" and elected Bernard Sutherland as chief. Scott refused to step down, and did not recognize the "custom election".1998Mike MetatawabinDate of SelectionChiefDeputy ChiefCouncillorsNotesRef2010 Robert NakogeeJuly 28, 2012Rex Knapaysweet Robert Nakogee2014Robert Nakogee2016Robert NakogeeAugust 13, 2018Leo MetatawabinRobert Nakogee Edmond Sackaney (Head Councillor) Joseph Scott Joseph Sutherland Margaret Edwards Yvonne Metatawabin Jackie Kataquapit Ruby Edwards-WheeskAugust 23, 2020Robert NakogeeCharlotte Nakoochee Joseph Scott Joseph Sutherland Edmond Edwards Xavier Inishinapay Joseph Pascal Spence Angela Diane Lagasse Arthur Nakogee

Custom Election Code (2022–present) A referendum of the First Nation's members on June 13, 2022 approved a Custom Election Code, with 22 of 39 votes cast in favour of the code. This Custom Election Code replaces the electoral process laid out in the Indian Act. The 2022 election was the first election in Fort Albany held under the custom code. Date of SelectionChiefDeputy ChiefCouncillorsNotesRefOctober 1, 2022Elizabeth KataquapitTerry Metatawabin Brenda Scott Pascal Spence Joseph Scott Ruby Edward-Wheesk Madeline Scott Christopher Metatawabin Madeline NakogeeElizabeth Kataquapit was the First Nation's first elected female chief.

References